[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Middletown 8-4-1997 by Ord.
No. 97-2479 as Ch. 28 of the 1996 Township Code;
amended in its entirety 8-17-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-3147. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
A.
The Township shall recognize the Emergency Medical Services Department
(EMS Department) as an independent not-for-profit organization governed
by its own bylaws as the coordinating agency for all recognized and
sanctioned first aid and rescue squads located in the Township.
B.
The EMS Department's bylaws shall address administrative and operational
functions, including but not limited to screening and qualifying members,
ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance, and addressing grievances
and disciplinary matters presented by the membership of the five recognized
and sanctioned volunteer first aid and rescue squads.
A.
The first aid and rescue squads presently recognized and sanctioned
by the Township, and which shall constitute the EMS Department, are
as follows, in order of their seniority:
(1)
Middletown Township First Aid and Rescue Squad of Middletown.
(2)
Fairview First Aid Squad of Middletown.
(3)
Port Monmouth First Aid Squad of Port Monmouth.
(4)
Leonardo First Aid Squad of Leonardo.
(5)
Lincroft First Aid Squad and Rescue Squad of Lincroft.
(6)
Middletown Emergency Medical Services, Inc. to be recognized upon
entry of an operating agreement with the Township, which shall govern
the terms of its operations, superseding any conflicting provisions
of the entirety of this chapter.
[Added 5-2-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-3167]
B.
No other first aid or rescue squad shall be recognized and sanctioned
by the Township or shall become member squads in the EMS Department
until the following requirements are met:
(1)
In order to apply, a group of citizens shall first submit to the
Township a certificate of incorporation and an application, which
shall include a list of the names, addresses, ages and qualifications
of the organizers and a list of all property and equipment acquired
by them.
(2)
The Township shall refer such application to the EMS Department for
its recommendations and comments, which shall be made by the EMS Department
to the Township within 60 days.
(4)
Upon reviewing the report of the EMS Department, the Township may
approve or reject the application or specify the additional requirements
necessary for final approval.
(5)
No first aid or rescue squad shall become a member of the EMS Department
until recognized and sanctioned by the final action of the Township.
The selection of officers and trustees of the EMS Department
and their respective terms and conditions to qualify to serve in office
shall be determined by the EMS Department's bylaws, which shall be
filed with the Township.
The business of the EMS Department shall be conducted by delegates from each member squad, in addition to the officers selected by the process set forth in § 37-3 above. Four delegates shall be elected or appointed by each member squad, in December, to take office in the January meeting of the EMS Department.
A.
Each first aid and rescue squad in the Township shall agree upon
the boundaries of its territory upon a map prepared by the EMS Department.
The map shall be signed by the President and Secretary of each squad
and thereafter posted prominently in the Township police headquarters
and other necessary facilities.
B.
The Police Department, or designated agency which provides dispatch
services, shall, whenever possible, dispatch the first aid or rescue
squad located in the same territory as the place in which first aid
or rescue service has been requested, and subsequently, additional
squads may be called into service if required. When this is not possible,
proper dispatch protocol shall be followed.
A.
Subject to limits prescribed by law, each first aid and rescue squad named in § 37-2 in operation in the Township shall receive an annual contribution as budgeted by the Township to be paid quarterly, on the 15th of April, July, October and December, in each year, by check of the Township Chief Financial Officer or such other financial officer as may be directed by the Township Committee to make such payments.
B.
Each first aid and rescue squad receiving contributions from the
Township shall perform first aid or rescue work in its designated
territories or other areas.
C.
As a condition of the receipt of contributions made by the Township,
an operating budget shall be submitted by each first aid and rescue
squad to the Township's Chief Financial Officer each year for
inclusion in the Township budget.
D.
As a condition of the receipt of contributions made by the Township,
or financing for new equipment or other capital expenditures, a duly
authorized officer of each first aid or rescue squad with personal
knowledge and responsibility for its operations and finances shall
annually submit a certification prepared by the Township Administrator
that provides minimal assurances to:
(1)
The squad's compliance with federal and state laws and regulations;
(2)
The overall financial condition of the squad;
(3)
The proper use of public funds; and
(4)
Certify that there are no investigations, audits or material conditions
that should be disclosed in the interests of the Township's taxpayers.
E.
A waiver or extension of these requirements may only be secured with
the express written permission of the Township Administrator with
an explanation for the same to be provided to the Township Committee.
A.
All new applicants shall minimally, prior to being approved for membership,
have reached their 18th birthday, shall have a physical examination
performed by a licensed, practicing physician of the State of New
Jersey, with a certificate to show that applicant is of good physical
condition to perform the duties as a member of a first aid and rescue
squad. Each member squad shall submit to the Township Clerk a list
of all members, and update that list as often as possible. The provisions
of this section shall not prohibit other special classes of membership
in each member squad.
B.
In connection with said application, the applicant shall submit to
fingerprinting, and authorize the Chief of Police to submit the applicant's
fingerprint card and obtain criminal history record information from
the Division of State Police/State Bureau of Identification for use
in considering the suitability of the applicant.
Each first aid and rescue squad in the Township shall operate
under its own bylaws unless such bylaws are contrary to this chapter,
in which case the bylaws shall be amended to comply. Copies of each
first aid or rescue squad's bylaws shall be filed with the EMS Department
and the Township, along with any updates made to the same.
All references in this chapter to first aid squads, emergency
or rescue squads or other similar names or titles shall apply to any
organization complying with the terms of this chapter and with the
primary purpose of assisting the sick or injured or assisting in emergencies,
regardless of its actual name or title.
Each active member of the Township First Aid Squad on the current authorized list of active members annually approved as per § 53-6 shall be entitled to the waiver or exemption from the following Township fees:
A.
Exemption from the municipal portion of Uniform Construction Code
fees for the issuance of permit fees, such as building, electrical,
plumbing and fire subcode work, on the principal residence of the
active member. This fee exemption shall not exceed the cumulative
total of $425 for any active member in any one calendar year, and
the residence must be owned and occupied by the active member. This
exemption does not apply to any fine or penalty resulting from the
failure to make proper application for any permit or failure to comply
with any applicable Code or permit requirement.
